I Was [[AMAZED!]] Science proves Your Fad Diet is LYING to you. Paleo, Low-Carb, Zone...

MMA Fighters like myself have to look at things skeptically... I may LIKE the idea of doing a BackFlip Kick and knocking out my opponent, But the likelihood of that happening is not a reality. As I grow in the sport and become more and more competitive I have learned to bring that skeptic mindset to my Nutrition and Weight Loss.

CEO Of Built Magazine, Andrew Riposta pretty much walked up to me and said the following meme:

And he was RIGHT. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Found >>HERE<< for your reference) A Meta-Analysis of nearly 50 different Fad Diets found:

"The Main Factor to the Success 

of these Diets was that each one 

Restricted Calorie Intake 

to about 1500 Calories a Day."

Basically, Fad Diets are just tricks to get people to reduce their Calorie Intake, Riposta Said. "Weight Loss is Simple... But it ain't Easy." He went on to explain that this is the reason he started his Fitness Website. The Laws of Physics are unavoidable, You need to Burn MORE Calories than you Ingest... We need to help people make better, Low Calorie decisions for them and their families.

The results of this meta-analysis supports what previous reviews of the literature have found:

"Adjusting the Proportion of Macronutrients 

(fat, protein, carbohydrates) 

Does Not seem to be Important for Weight Loss.

 All that matters is Calorie Reduction."

By the Way. www.BuiltMag.com is Free to sign up for their mailing list. If you're at all Like me... You're Probably feeling a bit like this about now:

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

OPINION: Why we don't we see certain "Styles" in Sport MMA?

Whenever I think of styles in MMA I am reminded of an endeavor that was once made to breed a domesticated line of Foxes.


In Richard Dawkins Book "The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence of Evolution" he describes that by the time Breeders successfully weeded out the unsavory "wild" mannerism the Fox... what they were left with was an animal nobody wanted. The ears got floppy, the body filled out, the coat color changed and the tail lost its fluff.

Basically, it looked exactly like any other dog... and nobody cared for it. Does this mean that the Fox wasn't there anymore? I don't think so. Just that when you want a Fox to be a Dog... It's going to look like a Dog.

I see martial arts styles a lot in the same way. When we cater any style to the sport of MMA, its going to transform it into something more applicable to that sport. Machida's Karate looks a lot different in the cage than it would in his Karate Dojo. Even the sport of BJJ doesn't get the luxury of as many submissions from the bottom due to strikes.


You can't fit a square peg into a round hole... If you wanna try, your going to have to shave off the sides of the peg to round it out. The RULES of MMA set the standard for what can be done in the cage. You ever see a fighter put his hand or knee down to the mat so he can't get kneed to the head? Take a few minutes to recover from a groin shot? These all alter the martial arts... forcing them to play by THEIR rules.


You take the ability to eye jab away all of the sudden 40% of all of Kung Fu is now rendered nil. Every time you make a "rule" you are shaving off a piece of the square peg... And now what used to be a square, fits easily into the hole.


The Problem with Sport MMA is that its a round hole... Just because a square doesn't quite fit... Doesn't mean its not a shape.

"Everyone is a genius. But if you 

judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, 

it will live its whole life believing 

that it is stupid." -Matthew Kelly

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

How Science Shows Participation Awards are KILLING your kids

There is a lot of talk on social media about kids growing up with a "Gimme Mentality". Often you will hear people (Including this Author) railing against the use of participation awards, In todays day apparently... everyone is a winner... even if you lose. We are OBSESSED as parents with raising our children's self esteem. Despite the fact that as Roy Baumeister, Doctor and Research Psychologist for Princeton University, puts it:

"The Belief that kids have 

Bad Self Esteem and Need to Be 

Bolstered is just... Empirically Wrong."

He goes on to explain how most kids think they can be president and a cowboy while curing cancer all the while still having time to be a movie star. So we can drop this notion that our children are need of constant apprasail.

Now you may be saying "But Mike, Who cares? How is this KILLING our kids? Well in a landmark study published in Academic Pediatrics found >>HERE<< they weighted data that represents 80% of ALL U.S. 8th graders. What they found was:

"42% of all of the adolescents 

DID NOT perceive their 

Weight Status Accurately"

This is important! Especially considering that 1 in 3 kids in the US are currently considered Obese! As Doctor Aaron Carroll of "Health Care Triage News" states:

"If we want Kids to Make

Better Decisions about Health,

It Helps for them to understand

Whether they are Unhealthy 

to begin With!"

And THIS my friends where it has become our fault! We've been so afraid that we are going to ruin our kids perceived self value... that we let them hurt their own bodies! We know that being over weight or being obese as a child makes them more likely to be so as an adult... which of course, carries its own health risks. The Study goes on to show that:

"Half of the students in this 

study who were Overweight or

Obese... Thought they were

a NORMAL weight!"

Now I am NOT saying that Fat Shaming is the answer... But it's YOUR responsibly has a parent to not only support your child's positive out look on life, But make sure that their body is JUST as healthy as their mentality. If you need help with making better food choices www.BuiltMag.com is a website that can provide you with information on meal plans for as little as two bucks a month. And consider involving your kid in some extra curricular activities like Martial Arts. Sports like Wrestling, Dance or Football may seem like harsh realities when dealing with subjects like losing... But that's how life is. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes you don't get a second helping of Mashed Potatoes.

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

OPINION: How MMA Gyms ruined MMA...

Imagine you walk into the office of a College Councilor at any University. You sit across from a man who has dedicated a portion of his life to helping people reach their goals and realize their full potential. "I want to be an astronaut" you say, "Ever since I was a child, I've been telling my friends and family how I possess what it takes to go into space... and now, I want to make that dream a reality."

The Councilor then begins laying out a plan for your 3 year doctoral degree in Engineering, Mathematics or Physical Science when you stop him "Wait, wait, wait... 3 years? I was thinking more like three months. And what's with all this Math? I didn't even finish High School."

Imagine the look on that Councilor's face. You are sitting in his office asking to be put on stage with the paragon of humanity and not only have you done NONE of the work... You don't even plan to! In fact, you inform the Councilor that if he DOESN'T get you into space... you will find another University that WILL!

Sound ridiculous? Of course it does... Yet, that is happening every day in MMA gyms across the world.

No longer are we considered "Schools", 

We have reduced ourselves to "Providing a Service."

The Experience of Cage Fighting.

We could blame the popularity of MMA, the culture of todays student or anything else... but what it really comes down to... Is us.

In the above analog to my point, Universities place such a high value on the knowledge they are imparting that the Space head Wannabe doesn't have any options... If he wants to go to space... He is going to have to do work. We as Gym owners need to operate the same way. 

MMA Cage fighting should be an honor that can only be claimed through hard work and discipline to the art... Not just something anyone with a free Saturday night and a signature can walk into because they thought it'd be cool. As Martial Artists its our Job to stand up... and hold our sport to a higher standard.

Because often times all the venues care about is whose gonna sell tickets.

In our defense though, It's scary! Its rough out there with how saturated the market is. When someone walks in only wanting 3 months of training so they can fight... it's hard to turn that money away knowing that your competition is just going to snatch them up. In ANY industry, there are bottom feeders... and lets not worry about them. The true, loyal and long term students know intuitively that by telling them they can't fight... that you are looking to keep them safe. And making them wait a year, or two or three will only make them more excited... and the experience of achieving it will make it much more special to them.

Because then its no longer about proving something... it will be about GAINING something. And win or lose, that is an experience they can take with them forever.

So in conclusion... STOP rushing people into the cage! You'll be better for it... They'll be better for it... And so will the sport of MMA.

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

OPINION: An Open Letter to The Armed Forces

Dear Armed Forces,

It's time to stop asking Celebrities out on dates Via Social Media.

Before I get into "why", I just want it to be known that I know your job is hard. With all the pressure you have in fighting for the freedom of this great country you deserve things like Military Balls and other extra curricular events for you to blow off steam. In all the heroism that you endure on a day to day basis its a must , not only for deprograming, but for creating a safe place to do so with your brothers and sisters in arms.

However, Using the connectivity of social media to start a viral campaign (intentional or not) to ask a woman out whom you do not know personally is degrading of her character.

Now I'm not saying Ronda Rousey isn't into the idea... We know she's already accepted... and that is her choice as a woman. But think of the position you've put her in. Calling her out on the worlds stage pandering for a date with all of the internet "rooting for you" leaves a woman with 2 options.

1. Reject a hero in front of the world and be the "Bad Guy."

or

2. Agree to a date with a man she has never met except for over the internet.

Let's take a good hard look at that second option... If Ronda was ANYTHING but a celebrity... would we be comfortable with this concept? If she was just our Daughter or our little Sister, would we be clambering for her to fly across country to attend a dance with a Marine Recruit she's never met before and knows nothing of the character of?

It's certainly not something I would recommend to any of the young female students in my martial arts programs.

Additionally, What does this Marine KNOW about Ronda? Outside of the fact that she is a UFC champion and what she portrays to the media. Do their personalities mesh? Are they interested in the same topics of discussion? The fact is, this Marine doesn't know these things... He can't know these things. So in asking Ronda to a ball, He's basically asking her there to show her off.

Think about that for a moment... Ronda Rousey, 6X UFC champion, Olympic Medalist,  Anti- Do Nothing Bitch and current inspiration to females everywhere... Reduced to the equivalent of arm candy for a night.

Lastly, its unoriginal... This isn't a new trend, Last year a plea for Jennifer Lawrence to attend a military Dine-out went viral as well. In the video below, Sgt. Scott Moore was successful in his plea for Mila Kunis to attend the Marine Core Ball back in 2011, gaining nearly 5 million views!

I'm not suggesting a law should be made prohibiting these actions, Nor am I trying to insinuate that you're intentionally being underhanded. I'm just bidding our heroes to give consideration to the position they are putting these woman in. Pressuring women, even celebrities, through public relations into doing anything is dubious and manipulative. And though seemingly innocent and at times charming... I feel its an unfair use of your Valor and position of authority.

Or perhaps I am just jealous that No Marine Corps Women have asked me out yet... There's always that.

Sincerely,

Mike O'Laskey

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

Wing Chun Doesn't Suck, YOU Suck. 5 ways you're ALREADY using Chi Sao in the Cage.

The above photo is of myself performing Defensive Motion #11 in the Ung Moon Series amidst an MMA cage fight. Go Lon Sao Da (Commonly referred to as a High Block in most styles) has proved itself for me in the cage, yet even with evidence such as this, people constantly poo poo the practical applications of Wing Chun. I submit that just because something doesn't work for YOU... Doesn't mean it doesn't work in General. As my Mentor Ron Balicki has been known to say:

"Don't judge the Art

Based on your Lame Ass."

Furthermore, I suggest that not only is Wing Chun effective... You're already doing it Every day in training. The following are 5 of my favorite examples.

1. Ground And Pound.

Taking mount is only half the game in MMA... You still need to do something with it. Punching someone in the face from mount when they don't want to be punched means there is a lot of hands in your way. This is where 1st and 2nd stage trapping in Chi Sao comes in Super Handy (Pun totally intended). If you look close at the below pic... You can see me using Pac Sao to clear the hand of my opponent. I'm looking to "Break that Dam" and let the "Water" that is my raised right hand deliver a blow.

2. Wrestling for Hand postion.

Commonly referred to as Hand Fighting in Wrestling, It's basically an aggressive form of Chi Sao (Which in my opinion everyone should be building towards.) In the video below, Watch Virginia State, All-American and National Wrestling Champion Jon Siroedas teach you basically how to use a Wing Chun "Toi Sao" to clear a thumb block.

I can already hear the haters screaming "But Mike, He 'Clearing' the hand!" to which I reply, Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? The names of things don't effect what they really are. I use the Toi Sao move to "clear" hands all the time. I say, "Toi Sao" is what I call the move... "Clearing" is the effect of said move.

3. Entering Techniques.

Otherwise referred to as "Bridging the Gap" or "Closing the Distance", These concepts are a staple in Wing Chun. And a good thing too, because most of the Art involves fighting in close proximity. Practitioners had to become masters of getting into the range in the the first place safely, and with out taking damage. The photo progression below shows myself using the Biu Gee/O'o Tek combo in an attempt to do just that.

4. Grabbing the Russian Tie.

In the Video below watch how JKD master and Retired Pro MMA Fighter Ron Balicki uses the Lop Sao to sneak in an upper cut, then pulls on the bicep to unbalance his opponent. Now watch him morph this concept to a standard wrestling "Two on One"... Chi Sao employs nearly every entrance you learned in wrestling. The Art just prefers to stop there an punch instead. Why? Because Yiu Kai, professed creator of Wing Chun, was a woman... And I would guess not fond of the idea of going to the ground with her (probably) male assailants.

5. Cage Work.

I mentioned proximity in #3 and it rears its head again in the last installment. You know all that "Dirty Boxing" that we never saw in the mainstream until the UFC? Well think of Wing Chun as the Dirty Boxing hipsters, because they were doing it BEFORE it was cool. Wing Chun expertly understood how to generate power when in close. The Legendary Bruce Lee used these concepts and became famous for the power he was able to pull out of his "One Inch Punch."

 

In Conclusion,

I used a vast array of styles in MMA fights... And Wing Chun is one of them. The POINT of Mixing Martial Arts is to explore and take pieces of what works and apply them to your game. Saying "Wing Chun isn't practical" is like saying the Karate Front Kick isn't practical... And you all know how THAT debate ended.

Mike O'Laskey is a Welterweight Champion MMA fighter and Owner of O'Laskey Martial Arts in Burbank, CA.

www.olaskeyma.com

1312 W. Magnolia Blvd 
Burbank Ca
91506

818-480-7810
olaskeyma@gmail.com

Utah MMA Champ Starts Anti-Bullying Program in Burbank CA

"Big Bang" Mike O'Laskey is SteelFist MMA's Welterweight Champion and he is starting a Program in his hometown of Burbank California that aims to use the sport as a tool to end intolerance and bullying in the San Fernando Valley.

"The Sport of MMA was one of the best things to happen to the Martial Arts..." The Champion Explains "... It ended the Palor tricks and gimmicks that a lot of people fell into. The problem I think is now we've over corrected, and forgotten the 'art' side of Mixed Martial Arts. I'm not concerned with creating fighters as much as I am concerned with reintroducing people to how the Martial Arts can change their lives for the better. For me? That led to cage fighting, for most others, that's not the case."

Mike recounts a time where pupils were not only trained in combat, but were given the tools in controling that power. "The Samurai for instance were not only trained in war time sword play... But were expected to live by a certain rule set known as the 'Bushido Code'. This code was effective in reigning in the power of the samurai warrior, Making sure that he was only using his might for right."

Okay, But how does teaching teenagers how to fight aid in ending bullying? The Champ Explains "The act of bullying is not likely one that can be 'ended' in the way most people want it to. Bullying is unforunatly a social construct that we evolved in order to keep people in line. We see the the behavior in all animals that live in groups. But like with most of the unsavory aspects of our subconcious the aim is to redirect the behavior into a positive outlet."

O'Laskey explains that this outlet can be anything social from Bowling Leagues to Book Clubs. The main theme seems to be finding the right outlet and the right mentor. "When kids feel included and accepted in a group dynamic, they are going to be less worried about what is happening in school... Whether they're inclined to be the bully or the bullied. This is where I think Martial Arts schools are the best equiped to deal with the matter. The gym provides a refuge of like minded people who are interested in the same thing your child is... while at the same time providing a physical outlet for frusterations gathered from elsewhere."

...Bullying is at its most harmful when a child feels like there is no escape, The goal of my MMA program is to provide them with a place where they can train and feel accepted while learning how to set reasonable goals and achieve them in a healthy, repectful way."

The current culture of Martial Arts seems to be one of an "In your Face" attitude. Perhaps Mike O'Laskey is part of a dying breed of old school Martial Artists, We certainly hope not.

Mike O'Laskey's Gym is Located at 1312 W. Magnolia Blvd in Burbank. If you'd like to get more info, his website is www.olaskeyma.com